Climb to Parthenon

Hot, hot, hot...beat the cruise ships...took the metro, so ez from our hotel.
Soon off to the ship, but need to get cool first.

Our climb starts...

Odeon at the foot of Acropolis

Climbing with the rest of the tourists

Can you see the tiny people doing the cleaning!

View from top!

Quick before the crowd comes!

Alex spotted these!

Last day in Athens...climbed the Acropolis and then off to the ship!

We made it to the top with the rest of the tourists!

It is giant!

Temple of Zeus

Looking up before climbing up.

Erectheoin Temple, 2nd most important Temple

Yanni played here...Odeon 

View from top!

In front of Temple of Athena

Last night at Daphnes est. 1868. And last breakfast in Athens

Dinner at Daphne's

Drank mastiha last night...strange dreams, is a cure for a zillion things. Only found on Hios, 3000 years old and Hippocrates said it cures all...so I must be cured.
Off to the Acropolis

Rice Pudding with Valrhona chocolate ice cream

Inside hotel loby

In love with this view at breakfast

Breakfast of champions in Athens!

Athens, Acropolis and so much more

Acropolis Museum-loved seeing the Director of the museum watch all the visitors!

Cannot get over the sophistication of the ancient civilization-5th c BC

Loved these glass floors of the museum, but it was kind of freaky...seeing the excavation

This room is parallel to the actual Parthenon and is the same size of the Parthenon with some of the items from the pediment (others are in the British Museum-a sore point for the Greeks!) Loved hearing that in the 7th c, beauty was seen as having curly hair! I loved learning all about the different statues and if there was a smile or no smile could determine the date of the sculpture. Super sophisticated tools! Did you know that Greece exports 150 types of marble? I was liking the zig zag patterns everywhere meaning eternal life...we saw them cleaning columns with a laser.

Looking out the window of the museum in the "Parthenon" room.

Time flies when you're on vacation...I love a real Greek salad!

People of Greece are amazing...having a blast and loving that Alex is using all his Greek root knowledge and love of Greek mythology. My favorites are now goddess of health and god of medicine.

View of Acropolis before walking to the top

Stadium in Athens, no longer used

Acropolis museum, one of the best I have ever been to! Loved the glass floors, so you could see excavation!

REAL Greek Salad

On our mini bus, had the best tour guide, Lea who set the tone for our whole trip!

In front of the stadium

Who knows what day it is?! Greece, Athens

 First night in Athens, sunset at the Acropolis!~

 Dinner or trying to stay awake!

Night lights at the Acropolis!

Let's just say Lufthansa isn't my favorite airlines. We slept zero hours...my best carry on items: wisps colgate, whole foods alcohol free hand sanitizer can be used to accidentally spray on people when the cabin air is filled with a combo of body odor and dirty diapers even though very few babies on board.
We are staying at Hotel Grande Bretagne which is across from the Parliament. Our restaurant has an incredible view of the Parthenon.....seeing it at night was magical.
Breakfast with Greek yogurt and fresh baked grain breads, homemade donuts...heaven!!

View from our hotel of Parliament...btw, no protests have gone on here since  the fall...very clean except for graffiti!

View at breakfast from our hotel

Closer zoom view of Parliament

Breads were the best here!

Pastry breakfast may have woken Alex up!

Smoke cages-we loved the idea...wish we had these in the U.S., plus signs inside were giant saying, "Smoking Kills"

Alex slept on his tray...glad he slept!

Calamity 1

Lufthansa only allows 1 item when you fly in economy. So, after saying I can put purse inside backpack...got supervisor, pulled the c--card and lastly did the "it's my trip of a lifetime". Now got my items on...stressed alex out a bit....

Onto the gate

Not quite Greece

A little Coffee Importer to kick off the morning!